Chapter 171: Gathering Information
The sun had just risen, casting its warm glow over the lively streets below.
"Aur, we should be arriving in the outer region soon," John said, a smile playing on his lips.
"Yes," Aur replied, his expression remaining stoic.
As they approached the tall wall that separated the academy from the outer village, a guard intercepted them, wearing silver armour adorned with an intricate symbol of two stars. Beside him stood his subordinates, each bearing a single star emblem on there silver armour.
"Halt!?" the front guard said, his brow furrowing in suspicion.
John and the others exchanged slight frowns at the unexpected scrutiny.
Without a word, Aur displayed the mission emblem, prompting the guard to nod in understanding.
"You may proceed, Young Lord," the guard said respectfully, signalling to his subordinate, who promptly opened the gates for them.
Aur nodded his head and walked outside.
"This place is as bustling as ever," he mused to himself, observing the lively activities and enthusiastic vendors in the streets.
"Let's gather some information before we make a move," Aur said, glancing at the four. "We will meet again here in an hour."
"Yes, captain," they all said in unison, departing in different directions to gather information.
Aur stretched his body and noticed George beside him.
"Senior brother George, why are you following me?" he asked with a smile on his face.
George looked at Aur for a long moment before sighing with some pity.
"Hey kid, let me tell you a secret, not that you needed it anyway," George finally spoke, stunning Aur.
"What is the secret?" Aur asked curiously, his eyes reflecting genuine interest.
"Listen, kid, in a mission, if you choose a task that's too difficult, don't count on us senior students to protect you. In fact, we'd be happy if you guys died," George spoke in a low tone, his words carrying a weight of seriousness.
The revelation hit Aur like a sudden gust of wind, causing him to pause and contemplate George's words.
"Why would they be happy if we die?" he asked, his confusion evident.
"Well, it's because if you guys die, everything that belonged to you will be given to us. Not to mention the extra contribution points we'd receive just for guiding you," George mentioned casually, his tone betraying a hint of indifference.
He glanced at Aur, noticing the young man's expressionless demeanour. "As long as we don't actively intervene, we won't face any repercussions from the academy. And if we were out in the wilderness, as long as some students are alive, that is…"
"Thank you, senior brother, for telling me," Aur politely said as he walked forward.
"By the way, where are you leading me to?" George inquired with a curious expression.
Suddenly his eyes widened as they approached a large Japanese-style wooden house adorned with red lanterns.
"Is this one of the brothels?" George asked, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement as he glanced at Aur.
"Tsk tsk, he is, after all, a kid," George thought to himself, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he followed Aur. "But these people are so bold to open their establishment even in the daytime. Too bad I can only leave the academy for a mission, or this might be my go-to place for some time."
"Greetings, young lord," a curvaceous woman at the entrance greeted with brightened eyes. She was wearing so much makeup that she resembled a ghost rather than a beauty. If a red tint could be added on her nose, it wouldn't be far-fetched to call her a joker.
Her smile widened even further as she took in the quality of their attire.
Both Aur and George wore tier one wizard robes, but with a distinct difference: Aur donned a sleek black wizard robe which accentuated the contours of his muscles, while George sported a regal blue one.
Though the woman couldn't precisely discern the grade of the material, her keen eyes immediately detected that it was worth at least a mana crystal. That means they are rich!
"We want information," Aur replied in a cold tone.
The woman was stunned by his directness.
Aur furrowed his brow as he flashed her his token, causing the woman's eyes to widen in disbelief. Her legs went weak, and she nearly stumbled to the ground.
"Show us the way."
"Yes, young lords," the woman stammered, bowing thrice before hurriedly guiding them inside.
As Luna guided Aur and George through the passageway, they passed by women dressed in seductive, revealing attire, who curiously approached Luna.
One of the women frowned and asked, "Manager Luna, what are you doing here? Madam will be angry if you neglect your duties in attracting customers."
Ignoring the woman, Luna gave her a slight stare that instantly silenced her.
"Hurry up and make way for these young lords," Luna commanded sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument. Her words stunned everyone, causing them to part and make way for Aur and George.
The women's eyes darted towards Aur, and they gasped audibly, their eyes widening with a hint of blush colouring their cheeks, their bodies freezing in place.
Observing their reactions, George couldn't help but find the situation amusing. "Seems like you're quite popular with the ladies," he remarked to Aur with a hint of amusement in his tone.
Aur simply shrugged casually in response.
As Luna led them to a luxurious room, they found a woman in a tight black suit, perfectly showcasing her voluptuous body, seated with a pile of papers in front of her.
"Luna, didn't I say to knock? And what are you even doing here?" the woman's voice dripped with ice as she looked up, causing Luna's body to freeze.
"Madam, these are the men who wanted to talk to you about something. So... please excuse me," Luna hurriedly said, bowing hastily before scurrying away.
Aur and George took their seats opposite the woman, tossing a file onto the table. "Give us the information about this group of people," Aur said calmly.